Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, East Cowes

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades Holy Cross Catholic Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 2 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "All children in Reception benefit from a well‑designed early years curriculum."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development programme is a significant strength of the school and reflects leaders' clear vision for developing confident, well-rounded and responsible pupils."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have prioritised attendance and punctuality."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have embedded an effective inclusion strategy which benefits the pupils who require extra help with their learning."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils' attainment in reading and writing by the end of key stage 2 has been below national outcomes."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There have been inconsistencies in how the curriculum has been taught across the school over time."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Over the past few years, decisions made by leaders and governors to improve the curriculum and teaching did not lead to rapid enough improvement in pupils' outcomes."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders and governors need to monitor, challenge and support the curriculum and pupils' achievement with greater rigour and consistency so that improvements lead to rapid progress across the school. • Leaders must ensure that high-quality teaching is delivered consistently across the school so that pupils, particularly older pupils, close gaps in their knowledge quickly. • Leaders should ensure that attendance remains consistently above national expectations for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and that pupils' behaviour is consistent across all areas of the school".

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 67% and 64% in Isle of Wight and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (71% in reading, 50% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Holy Cross Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School are Queensgate Foundation Primary (1.1 miles, Good, 77% reading, 80% maths); Lanesend Primary School (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, 58% reading, 52% maths); Gurnard Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 78% reading, 72% maths); and Northwood Primary School (2.3 miles, Good, 64% reading, 61% maths).

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

40 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Holy Cross Catholic Primary School (as of April 2026): 98% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 67% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (67%).

0.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 28 pupils (18.9%) received SEN support and 2 (1.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Wootton (Isle of Wight Steam Railway), about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.

In 2024/25, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.